President’s Message – YMBA

Invoking Blessings

The members of YMBA compassionately bestow blessings on inmate patients, staff and the general public by carrying out regular alms giving to Bhikkus and also to a group of mothers (Kirammawarunge Dane) and inmates of an elders’ home as annual events.

Cultivation of in-depth concentration

One can rediscover mindfulness that has gone amiss and find you’re the inner calmness by practicing the right way of meditation under the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable Bhikkus.

Helping the sick is also a priority

We provide comfortable lodgings, food and other essential facilities including the provision of prescribed drugs when requested, to cancer patients who report to Apeksha Hospital for outdoor treatment.

Donation of Blood

Annual blood donation campaign is conducted in July, to assist the Blood Bank of Apeksha Hospital to augment their blood supply kept for emergencies.

Educating the Young Spirits

The Association assists needy children in their education to achieve a good status in the society, With this objective, YMBA offers scholarships to Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students.

Empowering the Youth

Facilitating the under privileged school leavers the opportunity to follow a 6 months Software Development IT course followed by practical training.

President's Message

Mr. P.T.Sirisena

YMBA Maharagama is a leading social service organization in the Western Province. In 2017, the Western Province Department of Social Services recognized YMBA Maharagama as the Best Social Service Provider in the Colombo District.

Our focus is primarily on supporting the less fortunate members of society. The flagship project of our organization is the Cancer Patients Welfare Project, which provides free lodging and meals to cancer patients and their caregivers who travel from distant areas to receive treatment at Apeksha Hospital, the main cancer treatment facility in Sri Lanka. This service is offered free of charge, regardless of ethnicity or religion, and has been an immense relief for patients with low income.

In addition, a special fund has been established to assist needy cancer patients in purchasing medicines and obtaining medical test reports from external sources when necessary. We also organize annual blood donation camps to support Apeksha Hospital in meeting its blood requirements for cancer patients.

Our organization also runs a scholarship program for O/Level and A/Level students from low-income families within the Maharagama Education Division. We provide assistance to Dhamma schools in remote areas where facilities are limited and children are in need of books and other educational materials. We also regularly conduct Dhamma programs to promote the teachings of the Buddha.

All these social service activities are funded by donations from well-wishers and philanthropists, both locally and internationally. Fundraising projects organized by our members have also greatly contributed to sustaining and expanding our services.

We look forward to your continued support in our mission to help those in need.

P.T.Sirisena

President

YMBA renders all its services absolutely free. Funds required for the social service projects are raised through regular fund raising programmes in addition to the voluntary contributions of members, well-wishing organisations and individuals. A few philanthropists have left endowments through last wills and often the members of the general public who have been inspired by the Association’s humanitarian services too contribute towards the Association’s activities.

The project that provides free food and lodgings to cancer stricken patients is operated through a special Trust Fund launched for the purpose. YMBA has since its inception has served more than 50,000 patients and caregivers and hopes to strengthen this Fund through voluntary donations.
The Cancer Stricken Patients Drug Assistance Fund has been established to provide relief to needy patients to obtain drugs and medical test reports from external laboratories when recommended by medical professionals. This Fund too is maintained through voluntary contributions received from local and foreign donors.
Scholarships to students are too funded through sponsorships and donations received to the Scholarship Fund.
Religious services such as alms giving, assistance to Buddhist Temples, conducting Dhamma discourses and discussions too depend on donations of pious persons.
Social services such as blood donation campaigns to assist blood bank at Apeksha Hospital, family health camps, women’s welfare programmes and special projects to assist those affected by natural disasters and calamities.

YMBA respectfully invite donations from concerned members of the public to fund their humanitarian services. The Management Council of the Association requests you to send your kind donation to the bank account with details given below:

Account Name	Maharagama Young Men's Buddhist Association
Bank	Sampath Bank
Branch	Maharagama
Account No	001360000504

We thank you to provide information of contributions to the Hony. Treasurer of the Association by post, email or telephone, sending a photocopy of your deposit slip mentioning the project or programme towards which you contribute will help in the maintenance of proper records.

Your contributions are highly valued and will help YMBA Maharagama in successful provision of service to the needy sections of the society.